This can largely be attributed to their commitment to personalized customer service — in fact, Lake Elmo Bank has been voted "Best Service from a Bank" 11 years in a row by Oakdale/Lake Elmo Review readers.

Their dedication to helping others not only applies to their customers, but to the east metro region as well.

President and CEO Dan Raleigh stresses a commitment to significant community involvement for Lake Elmo Bank. For instance, the bank provides convenient Location Banking Services to residents of Oakdale senior living centers such as Oak Meadows and Echo Ridge, as well as Boutwells Landing in Stillwater. Saint Therese in Woodbury will soon be added to the list.

And this partnership extends beyond routine banking services. Employees regularly host social activities such as bingo and holiday parties with the residents of the senior living centers.

As a community bank, Lake Elmo Bank and its employees also are active in community projects such as working on the Oakdale and Woodbury Prayer Breakfasts.

Jodi Christensen, manager of the Oakdale office, has been a vital part of organizing community engagement opportunities. She chaired the successful Oakdale Area Business Showcase in 2015, and helped the Oakdale Business and Professional Association transition into the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, of which she is a board member.

Lake Elmo Bank's roots in the area are deep; it began its commitment to a tradition of service with the bank's founding in 1911. The staff have been involved in commercial credit since their beginning, moving from mostly farming customers a century ago to a variety of small business customers today.

They have also expanded to three sites: Lake Elmo, Oakdale and Stillwater. Each location offers an array of products, from car loans to real estate loans, with both investment and trust departments, something that sets them apart as a community bank.

"We provide products and services found at a big bank, while providing the personal service of a smaller bank," Raleigh says, emphasizing that for Lake Elmo Bank, "people are everything."

They have changed along with the times, adding new products and services such as online banking, but have not strayed far from the ideals of their founders of addressing community needs with a commitment to personal service.

So whether your banking needs are for home or business, large or small, Lake Elmo Bank has what you need and will provide customized service through every step. With a youth banking program as well as Location Banking for senior living centers, Lake Elmo Bank truly is an ideal banking choice for all.